Collapsible pouring spout



Feb. 27, 1951 3, RYAN 2,543,470

COLLAPSIBLE POURING SPOUT Filed April 16, 1947 glnvonfor/ Patented Feb. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to pouring spouts and more particularly to pouring spouts which are adapted to be readily detachably connected to a fluid containing vessel.

Certain types of liquid containers, such as Mason jars, milk bottles, metal cans, the larger sized vacuum jars, and the like, are difiicult to pour from without spilling the liquid. Moreover, the nature of the usual closures for such containers make it impossible to incorporate a pouring spout into the container. Moreover, a de tachable pouring spout for such containers has the disadvantage that it must be detached whenever the container is closed whereby the spout must be located and applied whenever the container is used. Obviously, under such circumstances, a detachable spout will be used very seldom and will soon become lost.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of my invention to provide a readily detachable pouring spot which may be applied to Mason jars, milk bottles, cans, large sized vacuum bottles, and like containers, but which may be retained in position on the container when the container closure is applied, whereby the spout will be ready for instant use when the closure is removed.

A further object is to provide a spout for a container which will collapse into the container when the container closure is applied.

A further object is to providea resilient and collapsible spout for a container which is selfsupporting on the container by virtue of its resiliency and which will collapse into the container when the container closure is applied.

A further object is to form a pouring spout such as that last described of one piece of resilient moisture proof material.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of my invention, combination and arrangement of the several portions thereof, and in the particular mode of operation-all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the drawing in connection with the following specification wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a, side elevation of my invention showing the same applied to the mouth of a fluid con tainer, the latter being shown in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the invention apart from the container; and l Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the invention taken from the right at right angles to Fig. 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference characters have been used throughout to designate like parts, i designates a liquid adjustment ofthe flange [3, which may be nec- I container, such as a one gallon vacuum jar or a Mason jar, the showing of the container being diagrammatical, and which container has a neck i. My pouring spout is designated by the reference character l2 and is formed of one piece of any suitable resilient, moisture-proof material, such as rubber. The spout I2 comprises an annular neck l6 which is adapted to have a close fit within the neck H of the container It}. A radially outwardly directed marginal flange M is formed on the upper edge of the neck I 6 and overlies the upper surface of the neck H of the container. In certain types of closures and indeed, most types of closures, the flange M will serve as a washer to prevent leakage of liquids from the container;

The lower edge of the neck I6 is cut on a bias and is outwardly flared to provide a flange l3 which underlies the inwardly directed wall portion I9 of the container which connects the body thereof with the neck II. It will be noted from Figures 1 and 2 that the neck I6 is offset with respect to the flange l3 and that the latter is downwardly inclined from left to right whereby to provide a relatively narrow flange portion H at the left hand side of the neck and a relatively wide flange portion 18 at the right hand side thereof. The purpose of this arrangement will be described presently.

The pouring spout per se comprises a substantially U-shaped flap l5 having a pouring lip 26. Below the lip 20, the spout is downwardly and outwardly flared as at 22, and merges with the walls of the neck l6 intermediate the flanges l3 and i4 thereof, as at 2|. The pouring lip 20 and portions of the spout immediately adjacent thereto normally project well above the upper edge of the neck [6 to provide adequatemeans for pouring liquid from the container.

The wide lower flange portion 18 of the spout is diametrically opposite to the pouring lip 20,

whereby to provide additional support for the same, and to prevent the accidental dislodgement of the spout from the container during the pouring operation. No particular strain is imposed upon. the opposite flange portion, and this has been made narrow as at H to facilitate the insertion of the device into the container neck H.

.To apply the device to a container neck, the wide flange i8 is first inserted and then the rear flange l! is applied by collapsing the neck is radially inward. The. natural resiliency of the device causes it to resume its proper shape when the col apsing pressurev is removed. In most, if not all cases, the device will be large enough to permit the fingers to be inserted to make any 3 essary. The device may be made in a number of sizes to suit various containers.

When the container cover is applied, it is not necessary to remove the spout from the neck ll. Instead, the cover, not shown, depresses the pouring lip 23 and adjacent portions of the spout I5 to the broken line position of Fig. 1. When the cover is removed, the pouring lipby virtue of. its inherent resiliency and shape, springs back to its operative position and is ready for instant use.

While I have shown and described what is now thought to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. 'I

do not limit myself to the precise" structure'shown and described except as hereinafter claimed. For instance, it will be quite apparent that except for the pouring spout, per se, and a portion of the flange 53, H, the device may be made of relatively unyieldable material in contra-distinction to rubber, as previously mentioned. Such unyieldable material and relative stiiT material may be readily joined together in a number of ways;

I claim:

1. A pouring spout for a liquid container'having a pouring opening adapted to receive a closure; said pouring spout comprising an annular portion insertable into said opening and substantially wholly received therein, means for retaining said annular portion in said opening, a co apsible resilient pouring lip including a flap portion, the flap portion flaring downwardly from the pouring lip and forming a base, said base integrally formed with the annular portion and carried by the interior of said annular portion adjacent the inner end of the latter, said spout having an outlet lip constituting a minor portion of its length, said outlet lip portion normally extending outwardly of said opening to be engaged by a closure and pressed into the annular portion when the closure is clamped into sealing position, said spout being so connected to said annular portion and the outlet spout portion being so dimensioned in respect'to the depth of the annular portion as to collapse thereinto'when a closure is applied thereto.

2. The structure of claim '1, said means for retaining said annular portion. insaid opening comprising a. radial flange overlying the outer edge of said opening, a second and longitudinally spaced radial flange underlying the inner edge of said opening, said pouring spout comprising a substantially U-shaped flap arranged axially within said annular portion, the lower edges of said flap being integrally connected to the inner periphery of said annular portion intermediate said flanges.

3. The structure of claim 1, said means for retaining said annular portion in said opening comprising a radial flange overlying the outer edge of said opening,'a second and longitudinally spaced radial flange underlying the inner edge of said opening, both of saidflanges being circular in plan, said second flange being larger than said first flange, said second flange beingslightly offset with respect to said annularportiontoprovide a relatively narrow flange 'atoneside thereof and a relativelywid'e flangeat' the opposite side thereof.

4. The structure of claim 1, said means ,for retaining said annular portion in said opening comprising a radial flange overlying: the outer edge of said opening, a second and longitudinally spaced radial flange underlying the inner edge of said opening, both of said flanges being circular in plan, said second flange being larger than said first flange, said second flange being slightly offset with respect to said annular portion to provide a relatively narrow flange at one side thereof and a relatively wide flange at the opposite side thereof, said pouring spout comprising a substantially U-shaped flap arranged axially within said annular portion, the lower edges of said flap being integrally connected to the inner periphery of said annular portion intermediate said flanges, and the open side of said flapfacing said side of said annular portion from Whichsaid relatively wide flange portion of said second flange extends.

5. A pouring spout for a liquid container having a pouring opening and a closure therefor, said closure comprising an annular portion insertable in said opening, the upper edge of said annular portion being at right angles to the axis thereof, andthe lower edge of said portion being formed on a bias to said axis, an outwardly directed radial flange formed on each of the upper and lower edges of said annular portion, the upper flange overlying the container about said opening to constitute a closure-engageable ceiling gasket, the lower radial flange of said annular portion lying in a plane which is disposed at a downward slant with respect to the plane of the top flange, said lower flange being wider at its lowest point than at its high point at the opposite side ofthe annular member, a substantially semi-cylindrical pouring spout axially disposed within said annular portion, the wider part of said downwardly sloping lower flange being disposed at the side of said annularportion toward which the open part of said pouring spout .is directed whereby when said widened'lower flange portion engages the Wall of the vessel or other container it will act to support theweight of the material being-poured. in. said spout, the lower end edges of said spout being integrally connected'with inner peripheral portions of said annular portion intermediate said flanges, said spout being formed or actuated by resilient material, and the upper edge thereof normally extending above said upper edge of said annular portion but being adapted to be collapsed into said annular member when said closure is applied to said opening.

6. A pouring spout for a liquid container or the like having a pouring opening, said spout comprising a resilient annular member adapted to be inserted in said opening and held therein by its-own'resiliency, and a resilient U-shaped pouring' lip having a downwardly flared base integrally connected at its base to the innermost bottom portion o'fthe annular member, said pouring lip having a portion normally extending outwardly of said annular member, and said outwardly extending portion being inwardly collapsible upon the application of a closure to said I opening.

ALICE G. RYAN.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

